News & Events from the
Lafayette Chamber | |
Monday, September 16, 2024 | |
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🍷 🍻 Lafayette Art & Wine Festival 🎨 🎸
Sat. & Sun., September 21 & 22, 2024
Lafayette Chamber Young Professionals at Headlands Brewing
Thursday, October 3, 5:30pm-7pm
Lafayette Business Women at Abio Properties
Wednesday, October 16, 8:45am-10am
👟 Lafayette Run for Education 🥈
Sunday, October 20, 2024: Prices increase Oct. 6!
🎃 Trick or Treat Street 👻
Friday, October 25, 4pm-6pm
➡ Lafayette Chamber Events Calendar ⬅
More events from our members!
Lafayette Community Events Calendar
Nonprofit Email Blast (current issue August 30)
Arts Community Email Blast (current issue Sept. 13)
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Festival Weekend Road Closure Information
The 27th Annual Lafayette Art & Wine Festival is THIS WEEKEND: Saturday, September 21 10am-7pm and Sunday, September 22 10am-6pm. Lafayette’s biggest community event will again be located on Mt. Diablo Boulevard, extending from Moraga Road to Dewing Avenue and part of Lafayette Circle.
Beginning at 7:00pm on Friday, September 20 to Sunday, September 22 at approximately 10:00pm, Mt. Diablo Boulevard will be closed in both directions from Moraga Rd. to Dewing Avenue. The east portion of Lafayette Circle (by Round Up Saloon) will also be closed from Mt. Diablo Blvd. to Hough Ave. Residents and Businesses will be allowed access up to Kimberley Harrison Interiors.
Parking restrictions in the affected area will begin at 4:00pm on Friday, September 20. All meters will be posted with no parking notices at that time so that all vehicles can be removed before the street officially closes at 7:00pm. Cars parked in the area after that time will be subject to towing. Please note that parking lots with access/egress only on Mt. Diablo Blvd. will also be affected as cars parked there after 7:00pm will not be able to leave.
Consistent with the Fire Department regulations, there will be an emergency vehicle lane open at all times. Local traffic will be re-routed to Deer Hill Road and Brook Street.
Click HERE for Lafayette Circle Detour Map (Postino, The Breakfast Club).
If you need alternative, accessible parking for the weekend, we have arranged for the following site to be available for you:
• We have received permission for parking in the Upper BART parking lot throughout the weekend. A shuttle service will be provided from BART to the corner of Mt. Diablo and Lafayette Circle from 10am to 7pm on Saturday and from 10am to 6pm on Sunday.
We apologize for any temporary inconvenience the Art & Wine Festival may cause you. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to call the Chamber of Commerce office at (925) 284-7404. Thank you.
Please plan to come and enjoy the Festival ....... and invite lots of your friends to join you! Share the event on social media at Instagram and/or Facebook.
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Help us Promote the Lafayette Art & Wine Festival!
The Lafayette Art & Wine Festival is a beloved annual event that brings together art, wine, music, and community spirit right in the heart of our downtown. As a local business within the festival footprint, you play a vital role in creating an unforgettable experience for attendees.
We encourage you to use our marketing assets to help promote the event and drive even more traffic to your storefront. Together, we can make this year’s Festival the best one yet!
Let’s show everyone what makes our community so special!
View and download Festival Media Assets HERE
Connect with us on social media!
Visit Festival Website.
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Welcome our NEW Lafayette Chamber Members!
The following businesses recently joined the Lafayette Chamber! We encourage you to visit their website to learn more.
Little Pizza Truck LLC
Lafayette, CA 94549
Carla Guyard, 925-705-6151
Little Pizza Truck is a family-owned catering business offering tailored experiences with fresh, seasonal ingredients, and exceptional service. Our commitment to sustainability and local sourcing ensures a positive impact on our guests and the environment, fostering unforgettable moments.
Category: Catering & Event Planning
The Nephrotic Syndrome Foundation
Alamo, CA 94507
Jen Brodehl, 925-858-4329
The Nephrotic Syndrome Foundation is a non-profit organization supporting those diagnosed with Nephrotic Syndrome, their families and the ongoing search for a cure.
Category: Non-Profit Organizations & Clubs
AFS Security
970 Detroit Ave., Suite E, Concord, CA
Heather Mendell, 707-567-9194
Commercial, Industrial, and Residential Security Services. Advanced security systems that protect what matters most. AFS Security is a local Bay Area owned and operated Security Company that specializes in video surveillance systems, access control, and monitoring.
Category: Alarm Systems / Security
Dave and Busters
2075 Diamond Blvd., Ste H180, Concord, CA 94520
Lawrence Hallmark, 925-655-6000
Family-friendly chain offering a sports-bar-style setting for American food & arcade games.
Category: Entertainment
WSI
Oakland, CA 94610
Tasneem Nomanbhai, 510-399-5272
WSI is a full service digital agency with digital roots dating back to 1995. We specialize in helping small to medium sized businesses attract new customers and generate qualified leads with strategic digital marketing. We are a Google Premier Partner and an AI-first agency focused on helping our clients with custom strategies that yield measurable results. Think of us as your digital partner for growth.
Category: Marketing Services, Advertising & Direct Mail
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Lafayette Business Women - Thank you Wine Thieves!
📷 Thank you Wine Thieves for hosting our September Member's Only event on September 11! Food trays and non-alcholic beverages were purchased from Whole Foods. View photos/videos here!
October Social: ➡ Wednesday, October 16 at Abio Properties, 8:45am-10am
REGISTER HERE!
Lafayette Business Women is a women-led business group. Shared experiences, contributed knowledge and skills, networking and collaboration opportunities. Empowering female entrepreneurs to build successful businesses.
Meeting once a month through November, typically the third Wednesday of the month alternating from morning to evening events, at member locations throughout Lafayette.
This group is for Lafayette Chamber members and their employees. Guests welcome to attend the first meeting for free, then we encourage guests to join the Lafayette Chamber or pay the $20 guest fee during registration. REGISTER HERE
Upcoming events REGISTER HERE
➡ October 16 at Abio Properties, 8:45am-10am
November 20 at Little Seeds, 5:15pm-6:30pm
This group is a subcommittee of the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce.
Special thanks to Carine Camara, CARRINNA for coordinating these events!
Sign up for email notifications at https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/yozHC2T/women. Join our groups: LinkedIn and Facebook.
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Ribbon Cutting at The Breakfast Club!
On Thursday, September 12, the Lafayette Chamber congratulated The Breakfast Club at Midtown on their Grand Opening with a ribbon cutting celebration.
The Breakfast Club is located at 3577 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette, CA 94549 in the Lafayette Clocktower. Stop by daily 7am-3pm!
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Don Jenkins’ Memorial Bench Dedication
On Saturday, September 14, the day before his birthday, we had the honor to gather with Lamorinda Village, the City of Lafayette, the Lamorinda Sunrise Rotary, friends and family to honor the incredible legacy of Don Jenkins with a dedicated bench in downtown Lafayette. The event was a heartfelt tribute to a man who truly embodied the spirit of our community.
Speakers included Sharon Iverson (Lamorinda Village), Niroop Srivatsa (City of Lafayette), Steve Ware (Lamorinda Sunrise Rotary), Becky Jenkins (Don’s spouse), Sara Regan (Lafayette Chamber) and Pastor Whitlock (Lafayette-Orinda Presbyterian Church).
Don Jenkins, who started with the Chamber in 1993, served as President in 1995, was named Business Person of the Year in 1996, and Citizen of the Year in 2018, was remembered for his incredible community spirit and love for Lafayette. He truly understood the 3C's: city, chamber, and community, and worked tirelessly to be involved in all three.
The bench is located at 3527 Mt. Diablo Blvd. for more information about the bench dedication program please contact the City of Lafayette. View more photos here.
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Special thanks to Lamorinda Music (left) and Windsor Management (right) for the use of their facilities! We were able to successfully train our valued wine, beer and ticket booth hosts for the Lafayette Art & Wine Festival weekend! | |
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Last call for Volunteers!
Are you ready to dive into a long-standing tradition and work hand-in-hand with community members? Do you want to be part of an energetic team dedicated to creating the best festival experience possible? Join our Festival Committee—the backbone, brain, and heart of our event! This dynamic group of passionate individuals isn’t afraid to roll up their sleeves, pitch in wherever needed, and stay until every task is complete.
As a committee member, you could be involved in everything or anything from setting up and breaking down the festival to delivering wine and ice during the festival, keeping the festival spotless, hanging signs, taking down signs, and even possibly leading a group of enthusiastic student volunteers if that is your strong suit. We have lots of opportunities to get involved and value expertise! Your contributions will be essential in ensuring the festival runs smoothly and successfully. Simply send an email to events@lafayettechamber.org if you want to volunteer!
View photos from 2023 HERE. View the list of 2023 beneficiaries HERE.
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Lafayette Res Run for Education
Time to sign up for the Lafayette Res Run for Education!
Race Day is Sunday, October 20, 2024. Interested in running as a team? Contact us!
The Early Bird Race is ON for the Lafayette School District schools - the school with the most registrations by September 30 and the school with the most registrations overall will receive an additional $500 beneficiary check! Register to run today!
Zoonie’s Candy Shop in Lafayette will be providing vouchers for a free quarter pound of candy to the first 100 students to register, at this point all schools are still eligible. This includes the High Schools!
New for 2024 - we welcome supporter Sports Basement! They will be providing gift certificates to the top two finishers in both the men’s and women’s category for both the 5K and 10K race. They will also be providing coupons to all participants!
Special thanks to our presenting sponsors: Oakwood Athletic Club, City of Lafayette and the Lafayette Chamber.
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The Healthy Lifestyles Fair takes place on race day, October 20, 2024 and is open simultaneously during the race from 7:30am to 10:30am along Lafayette Circle adjacent to La Fiesta Square.
Reserve a 10x10 space to set up and promote your business & healthy opportunities for racers & their families/friends. Contact Rebekah for an application.
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Non-Profit Network - Sharing Knowledge & Building Community Together
At the Lafayette Chamber Non-Profit Network, we believe that non-profit organizations play an essential role in building and sustaining thriving communities. Our mission is to foster collaboration, share expertise, and promote best practices among non-profit professionals and volunteers in the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce and beyond. Whether you're a seasoned executive or a newcomer to the non-profit sector, we're here to provide you with the resources, connections, and support you need to make a positive impact in the world.
REGISTER HERE
FREE and open to Lafayette Chamber member non-profit executives, staff, board, volunteers. Not a Lafayette Chamber member? Reach out to us for a guest pass.
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Homeowners Insurance Update
Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan is working closely with the Department of Insurance, the Insurance Commissioner, and other key stakeholders to restore stability to the homeowner's insurance market as quickly as possible.
She has announced a public hearing convened by Commissioner Lara to provide input for the final phases of new wildfire modeling regulations on September 17th at 10 a.m.
Register here. Send written comments to CDIRegulations@insurance.ca.gov
The full text of the Insurance Commissioner's announcement can be found here. This announcement marks the latest step in the Commissioner's Sustainable Insurance Strategy – the state's largest insurance reform in over 30 years.
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MEHKO Informational Workshops
Learn how to start your own home-based restaurant!
- Learn the steps to open a MEHKO
- Access valuable resources
- Get answers to your questions
Workshops include a 30-minute presentation followed by Q&A. Participants are not required to attend the full 2 hours. REGISTER HERE. If you need help registering, please contact Contra Costa Environmental Health via phone at (925) 608-5500 or via email at RetailFood@cchealth.org.
2024 MEHKO Informational Workshop Schedule:
Wednesday, September 18th, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m., Shields-Reid Community Center, 1410 Kelsey St., Richmond
Wednesday, October 2nd, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m., Oakley Recreation Center, 1250 O'Hara Ave., Oakley
➡ Tuesday, October 15th, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m., Lafayette Arts & Science Discovery Center, 3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette
TBD, TBD, San Ramon Community Center at Central Park, 2501 Alcosta Blvd., San Ramon
Please visit Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operation (MEHKO) Workshop Registration (office.com) [forms.office.com] for more information and to register for one of the upcoming MEHKO informational workshops.
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MCE Launches New Energy Efficiency Program to Help Small Businesses Upgrade and Save Money
$1.25 Million in incentives available for up to 1,200 businesses
Small businesses in Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, and Solano have new opportunities to save money on their monthly bill with local clean energy provider, MCE.
The newly launched Small Business Energy Advantage program provides no- and low-cost upgrades that make it easy and simple to achieve real savings, improve comfort, and build healthier spaces. Qualifying small businesses will be matched with an energy expert who will identify potential upgrades that can be installed immediately including LED upgrades, smart thermostats, and air purifiers.
MCE is partnering with Green Business Programs and Community Based Organizations to bring awareness of program benefits and enroll participants. MCE aims to:
• Distribute $1.25 million in incentives
• Provide 1,200 small businesses with energy education and referral services
• Serve at least 900 businesses by installing energy saving measures
The program was designed to address challenges that had previously been identified by business owners operating in communities of concern. Some of these challenges include lack of adequate outreach, costly improvements, limited guidance and complicated processes that can be too time-consuming for small business owners.
Small Business Energy Advantage will build local enthusiasm with city-wide door-to-door campaigns. Program representatives and MCE staff will stop into small businesses to offer program services. Concord, California will be the first city to host a campaign in October 2024.
Visit mceCleanEnergy.org/small-business-energy-advantage to learn more about the program and see if you qualify today!
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New Simplified Chamber Login for Administrators!
As the primary contact for your organization, you now have access to new online member benefits through the Lafayette Chamber website. With your representative login, you can manage your organization’s member account including your profile, update your representative information, register for events, and post your job openings, news, or promotions.
To begin using these benefits, please login with the password you created during the application process or create a new password here by following these steps:
1. Enter the email address associated with your representative account.
2. Request a new password by checking your email for a verification code.
3. Use the verification code to set your new password.
If you need any assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out by replying to this email!
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New Member Orientation at the Lafayette Chamber!
If you are a new Lafayette Chamber member, new owner or employee in an already existing member business join us for a Meet & Greet!
We offer New Member Meet + Greets twice a month at our Chamber offices, the 2nd Tuesday at 10am and the 4th Wednesday at 3pm. We are located at 251 Lafayette Circle Ste 150, Lafayette CA.
Each event is limited to 5 attendees and will last no longer than one hour. Please register with your Member account using the link below. If you are having trouble logging in please contact us (or see above to reset your password!)
We will not take walk-ins. If the registration button is no longer shown below, registration is full for this meeting. Please email Rebekah at Rebekah@LafayetteChamber.org to be added to the waitlist.
Don’t forget to bring your business cards and/or promotional materials to share with others and to leave on our membership wall.
Come learn how to maximize your membership and how to get involved!
View upcoming dates and REGISTER HERE!
Photo of a recent Meet & Greet with Product Deploy, Saint Anthony's Thrift, and Entrepreneurs' Organization - Mt. Diablo Chapter!
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Small Business Help Office Hours - Hosted by SCORE
SCORE has the largest network of free volunteer small business mentors in the nation. No matter what stage your business is at SCORE can be a valuable resource. The Lafayette Chamber of Commerce has been partnering with SCORE for over 15 years.
We welcome our chamber members and community members to schedule a complimentary meeting with a SCORE representative most Tuesdays between the hours of 1:30pm-4:00pm in our Chamber office at 251 Lafayette Circle, Ste 150. View the calendar for upcoming dates.
Mike Harris is our in-house SCORE counselor. Mike earned a BS with an emphasis on electronics from Stevens Institute of Technology and an MBA from Santa Clara University. After a few years in engineering, Mike spent most of his career in high tech marketing and operations management. While continuing to work in electronics he helped manage his family retail business. After retiring from his career in electronics, Mike began working with small businesses helping them obtain working capital loans. Besides mentoring, Mike helps present SCORE business plans and financial planning workshops.
To schedule your appointment, please call the Lafayette Chamber at (925) 284-7404 or book your appointment online here by 10am the Friday before. Enter your desired time frame. In person meetings at the Lafayette Chamber office are by appointment only and are scheduled every 30 minutes.
SCORE also offers free and low-cost workshops. VIEW WORKSHOP SCHEDULE HERE.
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Business Card and Business Resource Center at the Lafayette Chamber Office
Our walls are filling up with our members promotion materials and business cards! Stop by the office or email Rebekah Dani to be included! We love to showcase our members! | |
Upcoming Chamber Member Events | |
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So many events coming up! View our:
Nonprofit Email Blast (current issue August 30)
Arts Community Email Blast (current issue Sept. 13))
EVENTS CALENDAR
➡ View more events and add YOUR event to the Lafayette Community Event Calendar!
Also remember to tag us on Social Media! And view our stories and event highlights on Instagram!
| Educational webinars are FREE and open to everyone. Registration is required. |
15th Annual Senior Symposium is on Saturday, September 28
Hosted by the Community Foundation of Lafayette, this year’s Senior Symposium is taking place on Saturday, September 28, at the Lafayette Veterans Memorial Center (3780 Mt. Diablo Blvd.) This event is designed to empower seniors and caregivers. It will run from 8:30 am to noon and is free to attend. To register: https://bit.ly/ss24lafayette. The symposium will feature notable speakers, including:
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Honorable Gina Dawson, Mayor of Lafayette
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Robert Todd, a Faculty Lecturer at OLLI UC Berkeley, who will speak on "The Dawn of the Intelligence Age”
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Abbey Dykhouse, LCSW, MSW, discussing "The New Sandwich Generation" and navigating care needs
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Rob Tufel, MSW, MPH, CEO of Cancer Support Community SF Bay Area, who will present on optimizing health by understanding the connection between aging and cancer.
Plus, hear a special presentation on the new Cancer Support Center being built in Lafayette.
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ATTEND &/OR SPONSOR GATHER!
To sponsor or purchase tickets to GATHER, select from the options here. Tickets are limited, so we encourage you to reserve yours today.
To view Sponsorship/Donor packet, click here or download here. For questions, contact Lisa Hoskins at lisa@hoskinsmarketing.com.
Join us Saturday, October 5th, 2024 for GATHER at Grand Hall at St. Perpetua in Lafayette, CA
GATHER will celebrate 11 years of Grateful Gatherings’ achievements
and raise essential funds to help more families thrive.
To learn more about corporate gift matching programs, click here.
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Lafayette Homeowners Council “Candidates Night”
The Lafayette Homeowners Council (LHC) Board is sponsoring a “Candidates Night” at 7 p.m. on October 9th at the Don Tatzin Community Hall at the Lafayette Library and Learning Center.
All of the candidates for this fall’s City Council election will participate. Each candidate will speak for a few minutes. Then they will answer questions from the audience. More details will be posed on LHC’s website.
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LOCAL NEWS
City Parking Lot Closure - 949 Moraga Road
The City’s public parking lot across from Lafayette Elementary School is scheduled for maintenance/closure this coming Wednesday (September 18). Please note signs.
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City of Lafayette The Weekly Roundup
The Weekly Roundup, September 13, 2024 | Latest News | City of Lafayette, CA (lovelafayette.org)
News From the City Manager’s Corner
Last week’s updates from City Manager, Niroop Srivatsa highlight:
- Presentation about Indigenous History of the East Bay
- Renting Out a Residential Pool Requires a Land Use Permit
- Lafayette Creek Restoration Project Receives Federal Funds
- Take KTVU’s Zip Trips Poll to Highlight Lafayette Businesses and Amenities
- 15th Annual Senior Symposium is on Saturday, September 28
- Measure H is Intended to Raise Revenue to Maintain Current City Services in Lafayette
- Reminder: Traffic Calming Program Applications Due September 30
- Roadwork Advisories
- Tree Removal Work Underway at Terraces of Lafayette Site
- See You Next Weekend at the Lafayette Art & Wine Festival
- Meet Your Team: Jennifer Wakeman
- Save the Date: Fall Poetry for the Ages Event on October 29
- Police Department Statistics for August 2024
➡ Lafayette Planning Applications and Major Development Projects: Want to know the planning applications that the City’s Planning Department is processing? You can visit the Planning Applications Received page for the latest application information. Curious about construction taking place around town? Information on major developments that are underway can be found on the Major Development Projects website.
➡ Are you listed on the Experience Lafayette website? If not, reach out to Suzanne Iarla at the City of Lafayette
➡ Sign up to receive City notifications: Sign up for meeting agendas and Lafayette’s publications at bit.ly/LafayetteNotifications. Also, find out how to follow the City of Lafayette on social media at https://www.lovelafayette.org/connect
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Supervisor Candace Andersen Weekly Update
September 13 Weekly Update (constantcontact.com)
➡ Board of Supervisors' Recognize National Recovery Month in Contra Costa County
➡ Supervisor Andersen Introduces New District 2 Staff Member
➡ Contra Costa County Fire Protection District Annual Fallen Firefighter & 9/11 Memorial Service
➡ The East Bay's Economic Outlook
➡ Library Card Sign Up Month
➡ Community Conversations - Road Map to Voting & Get the Lowdown on California Propositions (Pro & Con)
➡ 27th Annual Lafayette Art & Wine Festival
➡ Homeowners Insurance Update
➡ County Opportunities
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Show Your Membership!
Would you like to include a Lafayette Chamber membership emblem on your website or other marketing materials?
The Lafayette Chamber would be happy to provide you with the appropriate logos. Simply email your request to holly@lafayettechamber.org.
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Sara Regan, Executive Director
251 Lafayette Circle, Ste 150, Lafayette, CA
Typical Office Hours
Monday-Thursday 9am-4pm, Friday 9am-1pm
Closed Monday-Thursday 12:30pm-1pm for lunch.
(925) 284-7404 | info@lafayettechamber.org
LafayetteChamber.org
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